I traced the steel edge of a spare dental scaler I kept on the desk for sharpening practice, thinking about how to word the request.

“I don’t want him to think we’re trespassing,” I said.

“If I explain that we’re the family who lived there before, maybe he’ll understand why I’m asking.”

“He might not care who we are.”

“Do you think he plans to bulldoze the yard?”

Luke shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his work coat.

“I don’t know what out-of-state buyers do,” Luke said.

I pressed the pen to the paper and began to write.